Mining machine



Oct. 11, 1932. 11E,l PRAY 1,881,936

MINING MACHINE Filed June 6. 1930 2 sheets-sheet 1 Oct. 11, 1932. T. E. PRAY MINING MACHINE Filed June 6. 1930 Sheets-Sheet 2 masEmy {@@Muf (5)11@ Patented Oct. 11, 1932 ATENT OFFICE THOMAS E. PRAY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO GOODMAN MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS MINING MACHINE Application filed .Tune 6, 1930. Serial No. 459,459.

This invention relates to improvements in mining machines and has for its principal object to provide a means for removing the cuttings from the path of the cutter chain in a mining machine of the truck mounted type adapted to cut an arcuate kerf at or near the mine bottom.

When a mining machine of the type above mentioned is cutting an arcuate kerf in the mine wall, the cuttings discharged by the cutter bar accumulate in large quantities at the rearward end of the cutter bar due to the fact that the cutter bar is moving about a iixed pivotal axis, and movement of the rearward portion of the cutter bar is relatively small.

In order that the machine may efficiently cut and not pull the cuttings back into the kerf, it is necessary to remove these cuttings from the path of the cutter chain movable about the cutter bar. This may be done by hand but is a dangerous and ineiiicient method of removing said cuttings due to the proximity of the man removing the cuttings to the rapidly moving cutter chain. The device of my invention provides a new and improved means for expediently removing the cuttings from the rearward portion of the cutter bar to allow the cutter chain to move in a free path and to prevent the cutter chain from dragging the cuttings back into the kerf.

A companion application filed herewith shows a new and improved means for removing the cuttings from the path of the cutter chain. The device of my invention is similar to that of my companion invention in a broad way, but discloses another novel method of removing the cuttings from the path of the cutter chain so the cuttings may be loaded into a mine car or any other suitable receptacle.

My invention may be more clearly understood with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure l is a top plan view of the device embodying my invention;

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the device shown in Figure l with parts broken away and. in section;

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on line 3 3 of Figure 2; and

Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary detailed view showing the details of the conveyor used in my invention.

In the embodiment of my invention as i1- lustrated, my invention is shown as applied to a mining machine 1 of the slabbing type which is adapted to cut a kerf in the mine wall at the mine bottom or at various elevations with respect thereto. The mining machine herein illustrated is of the usual track mounted bottom cutting type adapted to cut a kerf in the mine wall in front of and to each side of the track beneath the level of the track well known to those skilled in the art so will not herein be shown or described in detail excepting as to the parts which particularly pertain to my invention.

The mining machine l is only partially shown in the drawings and includes a wheeled truck (not shown) having a turntable thereon not shown), which turntable in turn has a cutting element 1a supported thereon for movement therewith. The cutting element la extends forwardly of the wheeled truck and has a cutter head 2 depending therefrom which is vertically adjustable with respect thereto in suitable guides in a usual manner. The cutter head 2 is supported for pivotal movement with respect to the cutting element 1a and has a cutter bar 3 supported thereon and extending forwardly therefrom, which cutter bar is provided with a cutter chain 4 which is driven thereabout in a usual manner.

As is usual with track mounted bottom cutting machines of the class embodying my invention, the feeding operation is performed by movement of the truck on the track or pivotal movement of the turntable and the purpose in supporting the cutter bar for pivotal movement about a vertical axis spaced from the axis of rotation of the turntable is to permit adjustment of the cutter bar for cutting in narrow working places.

The cutter bar 3 and cutter head 2 are turned about the axis of pivotal connection of said cutter head to the cutting element la manually or by positioning the end of the cutter bar 3 against a fixed point and turning the turntable7 and may be locked in various desired angular positions with respect to the cutting element 1a in a usual manner (not shown), it being understood that the cutter head 2 is always locked in a fixed position with respect to the cutting element 1a during the cutting operation.

Referring now in particular to the novel features of my invention, portable cuttings conveying mechanism generally indicated by reference character 5 is adapted to have connection with the cutter head 2 of the mining machine 1. This portable cuttings conveying mechanism includes a conveyor 6 which is of a relatively thin type, the total height of the top and bottom runs of said conveyor being less than the distance from the mine floor to the center of the cutter chain 4 when the cutter bar 8 is in a lowermost position with respect to the mine bottom and is adapted to be reversed about conveyor guiding means of a relatively small diameter so the cuttings discharged from said cutter chain may be discharged directly on the top run of said conveyor. The conveyor 6 will hereinafter be more fully described and is supported by an inclined frame 7 having engagement with the mine bottom at its forward end and supported on and movable about the mine on castors 8 near its rearward end and castors 9 near its forward end.

The forward castors 9 are vertically adjustable to allow the conveying mechanism to be operated over an uneven mine bottom so that the forward portion of the conveyor frame 7 may engage the mine bottom where said mine bottom is uneven and said castors are supported on a pivotally movable plate 10.

The pivotally movable plate 10 extends between the sides of the conveyor frame 7 and forwardly from the castors 9, and is pivotally mounted on said conveyor frame by means of a horizontal transverse shaft 11. A crank shaft 12 extends transversely of the con- Veyor frame 7 and is supported therein for pivotal movement with respect thereto. A lever 13 is fixed to one end of the crank shaft 12 for pivotally moving said crank shaft. The crank shaft 12 has engagement with the plate 10 so that pivotal movement of said crank shaft moves the plate 10 about its pivotal axis which lowers the castors 9 or allows said castors to remain in a normal or elevatcd position. Thus, when the lever 13 in a vertical position the castors 9 are in a normal position so the cuttings conveying mechanism 5 may be moved about an even mine bottom and when the lever 1?, is in a hori- Zontal position the castors 9 are in a lowered position to accommodate the conveyor frame 7 to an uneven mine bottom. Stops` 14 and 15 are provided to engage the lever 13 and hold said lever in a fixed position with respect to the conveyor frame 7.

Means are provided to detachably connect the conveyor frame 7 to the mining machine 1 and cutter head 2 so said conveyor frame ina v be moved on the mine bottom upon moven .t of said cutter head. This means comprises tongues 16 projecting forwardly from the conveyor frame 7 on each side thereof. Each tongue 16 has a clevis 17 formed at its forward end. A bored lug 18 projects out-- wardiy from the cutter head 2 and is engageable by the inner clevis 17. The outer clevis 17 engages a fiat portion of the cutter head l and has bored aperture therein. Pins 19 connect the clevises 17 with the bored lng- 18 and bored aperture of the cutter head 2 so the cuttings conveying mechanism 5 may bc positively moved upon movement of said cutter head.

The arrangement is such that either one or both of the pins 19 may be employed to attach the conveyor frame 7 to the cutter head 2. In cutting a kerf across the front of the track in a mine entry or room, it may be seen that it is preferable to use only one of the pins 19 to connect the conveyor frame 7 to the cutter head 2, which pin is preferably thc pin adjacent the rearward end of said cutter head to permit pivotal movement of said conveyor frame with respect to said cutter head to compensate for arcuate movement of said cutter head as it is being moved across the face of the coal. In cutting along long faces parallel to the track it is obvious that both pins 19 are used to connect thc conveyor frame 7 to the cutter head 2, to hold said conveyor enntially parallel to the track.

A motor 20 provided to drive the conveyor 6. Said motor may be of any type well known to the art but is herein preferably shown as an electric motor. The motor 2O is fixed to the conveyor frame 7 and has a motor shaft 21 extending longitudinally of said conveyor frame. The motor shaft Q1 has driving connection with a shaft 22 through a flexible coupling generally indicated at Q3. The shaft 22 is journaled in a housing Q5 fixed to the conveyor frame 7 and has a worm 27 cut integral therewith. The worm Q7 meshes with and drives a worm gear 28 fixer on the transverse shaft 29 for driving said shaft. The transverse shaft 29 has a sprocket 30 fixed on its outer end and is journaled in the housing Q5, which housing encloses both the worm 27 and worm gear 29.

A transverse shaft 31 is journaled in the conveyor frame 7 near the upper rearward end thereof and is driven from the transverse shaft 29 b v means of a drive chain 3?) threaded around the sprocket 30 and a sprocket 34 fixed to said transverse shaft. A roller 35 is fixed to the transverse shaft 31 and is driven thereby. The roller 35 engages the conveyor 6 and has lugs 36 projecting outwardly therefrom to drive said conveyor upon rotation of said roller.

'iframe and the conveyor 6 in a position sub- ICC The conveyor 6 is herein preferably shown as a continuous wire mesh belt 37 instead of the ordinary rubber or composition belt generally used in conveyors. The details of this wire mesh conveyor belt are shown in Figure 4 and this belt is made from interwoven wires in a manner similar to which ordinary heavy duty wire fencing is made; that is, strands comprising a single wire extending transversely of the conveyor are each formed with open loops interwoven alternately with similar loops on the advance and following strand. These strands have rolling Contact with said loops permitting maximum iiexibility of the conveyor on transverse lines. This provides a conveyor belt which may be turned about a guide of minimum diameter and thus permits the construction of a thin durable conveyor capable of withstanding great loads and stress having a minimum thickness of the top and bottom runs.

The wire mesh belt 37 passes around the roller 35 and forwardly and over a shaft 38. The shaft 38 is movably supported in the conveyor frame 7 to permit tightening or loosening of the wire mesh belt 37. As herein shown the means for moving the shaft 38 to tighten or loosen the wire mesh belt 37 comprises a threaded take up means of an ordinary construction generally indicated at 39. The wire mesh belt 37 passes over the shaft 38 downwardly on the incline of the conveyor frame 7 beneath a plate 40 in guides 41. The guides 41 are herein shown as being made from wood to eliminate friction between the wire mesh belt 37 and said guides. The Wire mesh belt 37 passes downwardly inthe guides 41 and forwardly and around a fixed direction changing device 42 of minimum diameter and thence upwardly over the top portion of the plate 40 in guides 43 to the roller 35. Thus, upon rotation of the roller 35 and engagement of the lugs 36 with the wire mesh belt 37, said belt will be moved downwardly around the direction changing device 42 and upwardly in the guides 43 to convey loose material from the cutter chain 4 upwardly along the incline portion of the conveyor frame 7 so said material may be deposited into a mine car or any other suitable material receiving device.

In looking at Figure 2 it may be seen that the direction changing device 42 and forward portion of the wire mesh belt 37 is adjacent a path of the cutter chain 4 generally indicated by dotted lines 45, and that said wire mesh belt is of the minimum vertical height and that the distance from the top of the top run of the conveyor 6 to the mine floor is less than the distance from the mine bottom to the center of the cutter chain 4 when the cutter bar 3 is in its lowermost position so that the cuttings discharged from the cutter chain 4 will be discharged directly on the conveyor 6 and conveyed upwardly along the inclined portion of the conveyor frame 7 and discharged into a suitable receptacle.

It may now be seen that a means has been provided which is detachably connectible to the retreating side of a truck mounted mining machine of the slabbing type near the rearward end of the cutter bar which may follow the cutter bar as the kerf is being cut in the mine wall and receive the cuttings discharged from the cutter chain and clear and convey said cuttings discharged from said cutter chain and cutter bar.

Although I have herein shown and described one form in which my invention may be embodied, it will be understood that the construction thereof and the arrangement of the various parts may be altered without departing from the spirit and scope thereof. Furthermore, I do not wish to be construed as limiting myself to the specific embodiment illustrated in the drawings, excepting as it may be limited by the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. In combination with a mining machine having a depending cutter head, a cutter bar projecting forwardly from said depending cutter head having a cutter chain movable thereabout adapted to cut an arcuate lrerf adjacent the mine floor, and cuttings conveying mechanism detachably conectible with said mining machine on the retreating side thereof for clearing the cuttings discharged by said cutter chain from the path of said cutter chain comprising a wire mesh conveyor extending from a point adjacent the mine loor adjacent the path of said cutter chain and upwardly beyond said cutter chain.

2. In combination with a mining machine having a depending cutter head, a cutter bar projecting forwardly from said depending cutter head having a cutter chain movable thereabout adapted to cut an arcuate kerf adjacent the mine floor, and cuttings conveying mechanism detachably connectible with said mining machine for clearing the cuttings discharged by said cutter chain from the path of said cutter chain comprising a conveyor extending from a point adjacent the mine floor adjacent the path of said cutter chain and upwardly beyond said cutter chain, the top and bottom runs of said conveyor being of a minimum vertical height, and of substantially less vertical dimensions than the distance from the mine floor to the center of said cutter chain when said cutter chain is positioned to cut adjacent the mine bottom.

3. In combination with ay mining machine having a depending cutter head, a cutter bar projecting forwardly from said depending cutter head having a cutter chain movable thereabout adapted to cut an arcuate kerf adjacent the mine Hoor, and cuttings conveying mechanism detachably connectible with said mining Inachine for clearing the cuttings and cuttings conveying mechanism detachably connectible with said mining machine for clearing the cuttings discharged by said cutter chain from the path of said cutter chain comprising a wire mesh conveyor extending from a. point adjacent the mine floor and the path of said cutter chain upwardly, for elevating the cuttings discharged from said cutter chain and discharging said cuttings beyond said mining machine, said wire f mesh conveyor passing around a direction changing device of minimum diameter adj acent the forward end thereof, and the top and bottom runs of said Wire mesh conveyor being of al minimum vertical height.

5. In combination with a mining machine having a depending cutter head, a cutter bar projecting forwardly therefrom having a cutter chain movable thereabout adapted to cut an arcuate kerf adjacent the mine floor, and cuttings conveying mechanism detachably connectible with said mining machine for clearing the cuttings discharged by said cutter chain from the path of said cutter chain comprising a wire mesh conveyor extending from a point adj acent the mine floor and the path of said cutter c'hain upwardly, for elevating the cuttings discharged from said cutter chain and discharging said cuttings beyond said mining machine, said wire mesh conveyor passing around a direction changing device of minimum diameter adj acent the forward end thereof, and the top and bottom runs of said wire mesh conveyor being of a minimum vertical height, the combined height of said top and bottom runs of said wire mesh conveyor being of substantially less vertical dimensions than the distance from the mine floor to the center of said cutter chain when said cutter chain is positioned i to cut adjacent the mine bottom.

6. In combination with a mining machine having a depending cutter head, a cutter bar projecting forwardly therefrom having a cutter chain movable thereabout adapted to cut an arcuate kerf adjacent the mine floor, and means detachably connectible with said cutter head adjacent the rearward end of said cutter bar on the retreating side thereof for clearing the cuttings discharged by said cutter chain from the path of said cutter chain comprising a conveyor extending from a point adjacent the mine floor and adjacent the path of said cutter chain and upwardly beyond said cutter chain, the top and bottom runs of said conveyor being of a minimum vertical height so said cutter chain may deposit its cuttings directly on said conveyor when said cutter chain is positioned to cut adjacent the mine bottom.

7. In combination with a mining machine having a depending cutter head, a cutter bar projecting forwardly from said depending cutter head having a cutter chain movable thereabout adapted to cut an arcuate lrerf adjacent the mine floor, and means detachably connectible with said cutter head adjacent the rearward end of said cutter bar on the retreating side thereof for clearing the cuttings discharged by said cutter chain away from the path of said cutter chain and conveying said cuttings away from said cutter chain comprising a conveyor extending from a point adjacent the mine floor and adjacent the pat-h of said cutter chain and upwardly beyond said cutter chain, the top and bottom runs of said conveyor being of a minimum vertical height and of substantially less vertical dimensions than the distance from the mine floor to said cutter chain when said cutter chain is positioned to cut adjacent the mine bottom so said cutter chain may deposit its cuttings directly on said conveyor.

8. In combination with a mining machine having a depending cutter head, a cutter bar projecting forwardly of said depending cutter head having a cutter chain movable thereabout adapted to cut an arcuate kerf adjacent the mine iioor, and cuttings conveying mechanism detachably connectible with said mining machine for clearing the cuttings discharged by said cutter chain from the path of said cutter chain comprising a wire mesh conveyor extending from a point adjacent the mine floor and the path of said cutter chain upwardly for elevating the cuttings discharged from said cutter chain and discharging said cuttings beyond said mining machine, said wire mesh conveyor passing around a direction changing device of a minimum diameter adjacent the forward end 7- thereof and the top and bottom runs of said wire mesh conveyor being of a minimum vertical height so said cutter chain may deposit its cuttings directly on said conveyor when said cutter chain is positioned to cut adjacent the mine bottom.

9. In combination with a mining machine having a depending cut-ter head, a cutter bar projecting forwardly of said depending cutter head having a cutter chain movable thereabout adapted to cut an arcuate kerf adjacent the mine floor, and a cuttings conveying mechanism detachablyl connectible with said mining machine for clearing the cuttings disj charged by said cutter chain from the path of said cutter chain comprising a wire mesh conveyor extending from a point adjacent the mine Hoor and the path of said cutter chain upwardly and away from said cutter chain, for elevating the cuttings discharged from said cutter chain and discharging said cuttings beyond said cutter bar, said wire mesh conveyor passing around a direction changing device of a minimum diameter adjacent the forward end thereof and the top and bottom runs of said Wire mesh conveyor being of a minimum vertical height and the combined height of the top and bottom runs of said wire mesh conveyor being of substantially less vertical dimensions than the distance from the mine floor to the center line of said cutter chain when said cutter chain is positioned to cut adjacent the mine bottom.

Signed at Chicago, in the county of Cook, and State of Illinois7 this 2nd day of June,

THOMAS E. PRAY. 

